thoughtfulness

[ thawt-fuhl-nis ]

noun

1. the characteristic or habit of anticipating and being attentive to the needs and interests of others:

   I was touched by the thoughtfulness of the busy waitress, who rushed to open the heavy door for me when I left.

2. the quality of showing careful, thorough reflection:

   The thoughtfulness of your interview questions really helped all the participants get to know the candidate.

3. a contemplative or meditative state or quality; pensiveness:

   He stood looking down at them in gloomy thoughtfulness.

4. the quality of being careful, heedful, or mindful (usually followed by of):

   Solving problems requires not just knowledge of advanced technology, but thoughtfulness of context and application.

Other Words From

• o·ver·thought·ful·ness noun
• un·thought·ful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of thoughtfulness¹

thoughtful ( def ) + -ness ( def )

Example Sentences

These are changes which are meant to have the conversation on Twitter be more thoughtful.

From MIT Technology Review

An exception is Lady Gaga, who rates a thoughtful chapter toward the book’s end.

From Washington Post

For example, people asked to evaluate a potential job applicant found the applicant to be more thoughtful, intelligent and competent if they’d heard rather than read the person’s job pitch.

From Washington Post

For my birthday, Kanye got me the most thoughtful gift of a lifetime.

From Essence.com

It is always thoughtful of a son to seek his mother’s advice.

From Washington Post

Endowing the feverish, PR-patrolled world of presidential politics with thoughtfulness and poise—now that would be radical.

From The Daily Beast

Rueful laughter from both men turned to thoughtfulness in Stittsworth.

From The Daily Beast

He was a biggish lad, with a boyish, slightly mischievous grin, and thoughtfulness and consideration were seamed in his character.

From The Daily Beast

His attempts at thoughtfulness fall flat, especially when he attempts On Walden Pond-esque introspection and self-assessment.

From The Daily Beast

His artistic thoughtfulness and precision are also evident in the 2009 collection Kazan on Directing.

From The Daily Beast

"Granted; as many as you like," he returned, glancing down into her eyes that were full of thoughtfulness and some speculation.

From Project Gutenberg

It is too handsome for me; but I shall always keep it, and be glad for the thoughtfulness which prompted the lady to send it.

From Project Gutenberg

Julian read the letter many times; he was touched by its delicate and eloquent sorrow—its fine and chastened thoughtfulness.

From Project Gutenberg

With her usual thoughtfulness Aunt Affy asked no question concerning the letter.

From Project Gutenberg

Jack was very thoughtful; but his thoughtfulness now was of a different kind from his late moody silence.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• kindness